WESTERN Australia’s first tropical cyclone of the summer is bringing strong winds and heavy rain to the Kimberley region.
Slow-moving Tropical Cyclone Blake – a weak, category 1 system – is tracking along the coast, passing close to Broome overnight on Monday.
Derby received 152mm of rain overnight, with Broome getting 148mm.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWOn Tuesday, the category one system is expected to move towards the southwest and may cross the coast near Wallal Downs, along Eighty Mile Beach.
It has sustained winds near the centre of 75 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 100 kilometres per hour.
Gales may occur along coastal parts in the vicinity of Bidyadanga.
Gales could extend to Sandfire and Wallal Downs later on Tuesday or early Wednesday.
There is a slight risk of gales extending further along the Pilbara coast as far as De Grey and into inland parts of the eastern Pilbara as far inland as Marble Bar overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday morning.
Heavy rainfall associated with the system is expected in the eastern Pilbara and far southwestern Kimberley during today and Wednesday.
Persistent monsoonal rain and thunderstorm activity is also expected to continue in the northwest Kimberley today with heavy falls possible a considerable distance away from the system centre.